Transfer machine



May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE EITAL TRANSFER MACHINE Filgd March 12, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 M E s o E E p M w o H N mi E MMN 6 a 8 1 w em m M Y B May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE ET AL TRANSFER MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1948 JNVENTORS May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE ET AL TRANSFER MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTORS Homo/w Z05: 4w

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Filed March 12, 1948 y 6, 1953 H. E. ROSE ETAL 2,639,493

TRANSFER MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 mwofwo TTa/ZNEY.

14 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. E. ROSE ETAL TRANSFER MACHINE May 26, 1953 Filed March 12, 1948 D 6 15 T N W W le am 5 .9

May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE r AL TRANSFER MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTORS 920 5.1806: 0ND H0 1572 B117 ,9 .60" PsoM BY TRANSFER MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 12, 1948 IN V EN T0125 HOWARD E. 205; AND

Mt /2,177 B-$/)MPJO/V' 57 BY .977'0/2 NEY May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE "Er AL TRANSFER MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTORS How/:20 & 055. 0W

W m M A fi m m MM M W W 4 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 H. E. ROSE ETAL TRANSFER MACHINE May 26, 1953 Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTORJ #0 M021) E. 205: am: By M68217? a. 0MP-5 M QMAJ,

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May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE ETAL TRANSFER MACHINE l-4 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed March 12, 19.48

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INVENTORJ HOB 42D A". 206: aw BY M67221 8 64/1250 ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE ETAL TRANSFER MACHINE 14 sheets-heet 12 Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTORS #1004020 [.2055 and y "lee/17' I3. 5AM 1 50M TOk A/EY- May 26, 1953 H. E. ROSE ETAL TRANSFER MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed March 12, 1948 mww ww 0 6 TAP m5 M wwa. 0 .ET A D/ v m M M Patented May 26, 1953 TRANSFER- MACHINE Howard E. Rose, Peninsula, and Merritt B. Sampson, Lakewood, Ohio, assignors to The Match -& Merryweather Machinery Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 12, 1948, Serial No. 14,4:04

15 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to a transfer machine more particularly to a machine of 'a type in which sections are cut from. a continuous length of stock and such out off sections then transferred to a second station'for the performance of a further operation thereon. More particularly the inventionis concerned with a machine for-automatically cutting off sections of bar stock or the like and mechanically trans ferring such sections to a second station where such-additional operation is performed.

The-screw machine is a well-known example otamachine in which a variety of operations maybe performed upon the end portion of a continuous length of rodding, forexample, and such end portionthen cutoff and discharged from the machine. There are, however, many precincts whichrequire the performance of operations on each end thereof so that both such operations can be perforincd oniy after'thc Work-piece has been severed from the length ofstock. It has been standard practice to out such work-pieces from the stock by means of an automatic sawing machine or the like and then to transport such cut off pieces to a separate machine where the necessary further operations are then performed. Due to the remarkable developments in recent years, both in cutting tools and in the machine tools themselves, such tools are now capable of such. greatly increased rates of production that the chief inefficiency encountered in their use is the time required forgset-up and the time taken by the operator in inserting and removing workepieces, indexing the machine, and the like. It is therefore a primary object of our invention'to provide'a machine adapted to cut off work-pieces from continuous lengths of bar .stock-ortubing, for example, which may be'of relatively heavy gauge andthen perform a variety of additional operations on such cut off work.-piece Without any intervention on the part-of theoperator of the machine.

A further object is to provide such a machine adapted to perform operations on each end of a work-piece, including internal operations such drilling, for example.

Another object is to provide transfer mechan which will be positive in its control of the workpiece to insure proper centering of the latter.

Another object is "to provide work holding :2 cans which wiil be quickly adjustable without requiring removal or replacement :of parts such as oo'llets orthe likc.

Another object is to provide a machine in which an operation may be performed upon one end of a work-piece simultaneously with the severing of the other end of such work-piece from thestock.

Still another object is to provide means for automatically ejecting the finished. work-piece from the machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, s invention then comprises the er fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments f the invention, these being indicative, however, of out a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fi 1 is a top plan View of a machine constructed in accordance with our invention and provided with a tool for operating upon the end of the stock simultaneously with the severing of such stock by the metal cutting saw;

Fig. 2 is a front clevational view of such machine einhodying our invention;

Fig, 3 is an end elevational view of such magenerally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to '3 inclusive hut providing for only two machining operations addition to the cut-01f;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of such machine as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the left-hand end of such machine as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detailed elevational view of the work-piece transfer carriage;

Fig. '8 is a side elevational view of the saw carriage;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of such saw carriage;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the stock vise (partly broken away) which is adapted to clamp such stock adjacent the saw;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational View of such vise partly broken away to show the means for adjusting the lower jaw member thereof;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of such vise;

Fig. 13 is a side elevations-l View of one of the secondary work-piece clamping means;

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of suchsecondary clamping means;

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of the stockfeed mechanism Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view along the line l6l6 on Fig. 15 showing the stock feed carriage;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic layout of a hydraulic system for operating the machine automatically in proper sequence. K

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of a modified form of work-piece transfer carriage;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 18 but showing a modified form of lower clamping jaw preferred under certain circumstances; and

Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of an electrical circuit for controlling operation of the hydraulic system.

General construction Referring now more particularly to such drawings and especially Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, the embodiment of our invention therein illustrated comprises a box frame I on which are mounted a metal cold sawing machine carriage 2 and a pair of opposed tool-carrying stands 3 and 4. A continuous length of stock such as bar stock or tubing is adapted to be advanced (from the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and a) through stock vise or column clamp 5 which securely holds the stock curing the sawing operation. The end of the stock engages either a stock stop 6 supported by an adjustably positioned stand I (see Fig. 6) or else a stop on the face of stand 8 (see Fig. 1) when it is desired to perform a machining operation on such end at the same time that the piece is being cut off by the saw 9. A reciprocating transfer carriage [I] is operative as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 1 to transfer the cut off work-piece to a second station where such workpiece is held by a pair of secondary clamps II and I2.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the machine of this invention is adapted to perform a plurality of operations on a piece of work which has first been out from a continuous length of stock. Secondary operations may be performed on both ends of the work-piece, such secondary operations including drilling, center drilling, chamfering, chamfering outside diameter and inside diameter of tubing, internal and external threading, hollow milling and a variety of other operations including combinations of any of the aforementioned.

The saw carriage 2 and stock holding vise 5 are fixedly positioned on the bed relative to the longitudinal direction of the stock, although such saw carriage is of course adapted to be traversed to cut off such stock. The work-piece transfer carriage l0 and the tool stands 3, 4 and I3 are, however, adjustably positioned on ways parallel to the axis of the stock. Stands 8, l4 and with their respective work-piece holding clamps 16, II, and I2 are similarly adjustably mounted on the ways I! and [8, as is stock stop stand I, when such latter is employed.

Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive show in semi-diagrammatic fashion the general relationship of the principal units comprising the machine, while Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive and the following detail figures illustrate more fully one preferred construction. Like parts have been identified by like numerals.

Saw carriage Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9, the sawing machine which we employ may desirably be a cold metal sawing machine of the general type shown and described in Patent No. 2,327,920 to J. G. Moohl. While the precise construction of such sawing machine may vary, the machine as shown comprises a rotary disk saw 9 mounted on carriage 2 which is adapted to be reciprocated relative to base frame I in a manner more fully described below. Such saw is driven by an electric motor l9 pivotally mounted at on such carriage for proper tensioning of belt drive 2 I, and through gearing (not shown) within the carriage. The saw carriage itself travels on ways 22 on supplemental frame 23 on base frame I whereby the saw may be traversed to engage and cut off the work. The manner in which such sawing machine is operated in timed relation to the operation of the stock feeding, stock transfer, and machining devices is explained below (see Operation). A star-wheel type chipremover 24 is adjustably mounted at 25 to clear the saw teeth as the saw revolves and a coolant supply tube 26 is positioned to direct a stream of cutting oil onto the saw blade.

Stock vise The stock vise 5 which is generally indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, for example, is shown in detail in Figs. 10 to 12. It comprises a column 21 having an integral base 28 bolted to the main frame of the machine. Two opposed clamping jaws 29 and 30 are mounted for vertical reciprocation between laterally spaced upper extensions 3| and 32 of such column. Lower jaw 39 is secured to a post 33 which is threaded into a rotatable outer sleeve support By rotating such sleeve jaw 30 may thus be raised or lowered to ensure proper centering oi the work-piece. Upper jaw 29 is adjustably attached to piston 35 of hydraulic cylinder 3'5 and is adapted to be reciprocated therewith to clamp and unclamp the stock 3'1. Plunger 38 in the upper cylinder head 39 may be adjustably positioned by means of knurled knob 40 to limit upward movement of piston 35 to that required to release the stock clamped between jaws 29 and 30. Knurled lock nut 4| operates to maintain such adjustment.

A bracket 42 is mounted on the column below lower jaw 30 for vertical adjustment to support the stock on the other side of the saw blade from such clamping jaws. This aids in eliminating vibration or chatter, particularly during final completion of the cut.

Stock: feed mechanism Various forms of stock feed mechanism may be employed, including that described in th application of Lee W. McClellan, Frank J. Holberger and Howard E. Rose, Ser. No. 698,788, filed September 23, 1946. The form shown in Figs. 4, 5, 15 and 16 herein comprises a hydraulic cylinder 43, the piston 44 of which is connected to a serrated cam gripper device adapted to seize the stock and advance the same.

A heavy bracket or extension 45 is secured with bolts or by welding to main frame I and a shaft 46 is iournalled for rotation in bearing 41 and 48 thereon. Sliding blocks 49 and 50 having onpositely inclined upper surfaces are threadably secured on shaft 45, one with a right-hand thread and the other with a left-hand thread, so that upon rotation of such shaft by means of handwheel 5| the blocks will be caused to move toward and away from each other. A ehannelform frame 52 of welded construction is supported on blocks 53 and 54 having under faces inclined to engage the upper inclined faces of blocks 49 and 50. When such latter blocks are shifted by rotation of wheel 5|, frame 52 will therefore be accacce correspondinglyraised-or lowered. "-Posize-i155and 5.6 arezprovided: with eccentric cam 1OCkS-511fand 58 to lock such frame in adjusted position. A guide sh'aft 59 for the stock feed :carriage :is supported "at one endbytupright 1.69 :and passes through bearing= 6 I .in :member 62 -.c0nnectcd with piston 44.

Acarriageifiii is'securcd 'to theend'o'f pistoni l for-reciprocation along slideways'li iandfifi withinbhannelform frame 52. Mounted onsaid carria'ge is asuperstructurecomprising two spaced sld'e-rm'embers Stand 6'! havinga serratedeccentrio cam: gripper 68 wpivotally fimounted "therebetween on which thestock i -adapted to rest and a--roller"89 adapted to bearon the. top :of such stock. -Such 'roIlerLi -carried in a yoke '50 which .is vertically positioned by :means of screw 1| andhandknoblZ.

.nnspringebacked plunger 13 tends to rotate gripper "68 .in .a clockwise direction-as shown in Fig.1 15,. thereby ensuring'that the stock will be firmly seized'when p-iston Mvreoiprocates carriage 63.1120 the left to advance the same. 1 Upon return of the carriage to theri'ght, due to the eccentric shape-oil the gripper its aholdaon the stock :is relaxed and iii; slides along freely until the carriage again amoves to the rleft to' advance the stock. Kn'ob'lfi Jon :rollerrfisandlever 15 on grippertii permit manual control of such grippin mechanismwhensettingup.the ma'chine.

Transfer carriage "When the 'stockha-s been fedthrough the jaws of column clamp'iit is also grippedby the jaws of the -transfer carriage i0 'in'readiness to advance the work-piece to the-second work station. when thesawii has severed the same from the stock.

Such carriage 1U is-mounted for reciprocation in base 16 which is in turn adapted to be.adjustably positioned'alongways I? on the main frame or bed I (seeFig. 7). Normally it'will be desired so to position suchbase on such ways that carriage l0"wi11" be"0pp0site thamid-point of the work-piece. The forward end of thecarriage is deeply slotted at l! to'permit feedingof stock there-past even when thecarriage isin advanced position. The "work-piece clamping means 'of this carriage comprises ansupper reciprocable jaw member "Ill andsa lower adjustable jaw member -19. Lower jaw 59 is carried on a post Bil threaded inrotatable sleeve "8! whereby such jaw may be raisedor lowered. Upper jaw '38 is attached to a slide 82 in the fac of carriage if! andsecured to a piston sit-in cylinder 84. A compression spring 85 bearing on such piston. tends .to force jaw T8'down "into worlzclamping position. .A pair of flexible'pressure hose such as as connect conduits 81 and it "from the respective ends of such cylinder 'to-fluid pressure lines attached .to base 16. Base Hi itself houses afiuid pressure cylinder 89 having a .piston Eli! attached to bracket 9| on carriage -landadaptedto reciprocate su-ch'carriage. on such base.

Secondary clamping means --:Referring :now -more particularlywo Figs' 13 and-14; theresis' there'illustratedone'of the pair of secondaryclamping rneans 'H- and: 12 for holding the work-piece at "the second work station. As above-explainedysuch clamping means together with stands it andld are-adapted to-be adjustably positioned along ways 18. Only the one such clamping means-"will be described in de- 6 tail, it being understood that-the other is a:m,irror image thereof.

'Upper'jaw :92- isaattached-to piston 93 in upper cylinder 94 while lower jaw 95 is secured to'piston 9c in lower cylinder 9i. Centerin of the workpiece relative to the tools is obtained by adjusting the threaded connection 93 between jaw 95 and piston 96. The upper end of cylinder 95 is connected to the lower end of cylinder Si by fluid pressure conduit 99 but .a valve Hit in such line causes lpistonjilt always to complete its full stroke before piston 83has moved jaw 92 down into clamping position. Prop-er centering of the-workpiece is thus assured. The lower end of cylinder 94 and the upper end of cylinder Q! are connected to "fluid pressure line i!!! so that when pressure is admitted thereto both clamping jaws will be retracted simultaneously.

When the jaws are thus retracted the workpiece .will be left resting on inclined tracks 192 and its and will bedischarged from the machine.

"The tool-carrying spindles IM and IE5 are driven b electric rectors I66 and it? mounted on top of stands 3 and d respectively, with belt drives guarded by shield IiiS a-nd Hi9. If tool stand I3 and clamp it are employed in place of the simple stock. it on stand 7 they will be of similar construction. The driving means may include cam mechanism whereby the tool is gradually fed into the wort: and then retracted, such mechanismheingof standarddesign and available from manufacturers as a unit.

Control system-and operation The l'iydraulic system :and the method of con trolling the same will best be understood together with explanation of the operation of the machine. Manual switches are located in control panel [it (see Fig. 6) and hydraulic fluid is introduced tosump HI through filler neck H2, gauge H3 registering the fluid level.

Reference may now be had to Figs. 17 and '20 which illustrate, respectively, the fluid pressure operating system and the electrical control circuit therefor. The control system i capable of selectivemanual or'automatic operation, however. certain manual steps'precede an automatic cycling =operat-ion. At the start of an operating cycle, the stock feed'carriage will be in fully retracted position as will :the saw carriage 2 and the transfercarriage ill, micro-switches H8 and M9,. respectively associated with the two latter carriages, thereby being-closed. The main start button is first actuated to energize the pump coolant motor, the spindle drive motors Hi6 and ifllpand the saw drive motor i8, through relay contaotors Ml. Likewise, the electric motor H5 is energized by relay M2 to drive-pump IM- and thus deliver fluid underpressure to the hydraulic line H 3. All. clamping means of the apparatus normally connected topressure line 1 i6, and therefore will automatically more to clamping position when "the systemis energized.

..Manualiy operated switch A is next moved to handfl position-to energize relays Hi2 and R13, thereby to place the several relay circuits in condition for hand controlled operation. Switch B isjthcnclosed to energize relay R2 which in turn operates solenoid valve to open column clamp by reversing the "flow of fluid under pressure 'thecylinder and the transfer clamp, by 3.1501 eversing the fluid pressureincylinder 85. 'f'herstock feed carriage is next caused to move iorwardby closing swlitchCto energize relay R3 andgthrou'gn actuation of solenoid valve 139, to

direct pressure behind piston 44 in cylinder 43 through the line I48.

The stock 31 is threaded through the stock feed gripper mechanism between cam gripper 68 and roller 69, and between the jaws 29 and 30 of column clamp 5, until it engages stop 8 where such engagement closes micro-switch Ill. At this time, switch A is thrown to automatic position, thus deenergizing relays Rik and RI3 and conditioning the control circuit for automatic operation. Since micro-switches II'I, II8 and H9 are now closed, control relay R5 will immediately be energized and will trigger the circuits for relays R6 to R8, as well as complete the circuit to relay R4.

Energization of relay R4 causes solenoid valve !24 to operate to move saw carriage 2 forward by connecting line I25 with fluid pressure line I I6 and line I26 to drain, while relays R! and R9 respectively actuate solenoid valves I22 and I23 to connect the tool spindle feed means to the drive means therefor, thus moving spindles I84 and I85 forward. Movement of these spindles operates vitches I2? and I2I to transfer control thereof from the startin relays R8 and R8 to the hold relays R1 and R8.

As saw carriage 2 moves forwardly, switch I I8 will open to deenergize control relay R5 but the relays R4, R1 and R9, will stay energized since each is provided with an individual holding circuit. When the saw has advanced sufliciently to sever the stock, limit switch I38 operates to open the holding circuit for relay R 3, thus stopping the saw feed by reversing solenoid valve I24. At this time, spindles I84 and I85 will have completed their cam controlled cycle and engaged switches I26 and HI to break the holding circuits for relays RT and R9, thereby to return spindle control to the start relays RB and R8. The spindle drive is therefore disengaged and the spindles dwell in retracted position.

Closure of switch I38 also energizes control relay RII which in turn readies the circuits of relays RH) and RI for completion of the automatic cycle. When the return of saw carriage 2 closes switch H8, relays RIfl and RI are energized, the latter operating through solenoid valve I3I to unclamp the secondary column clamping means by reversing the pressure supplied to cylinders 9 1 53?. A finished work-piece at such station thereupon rolls or slides down inclined tracks I82 and I83 (see Figs. 13 and 14) and is discharged from the machine.

When the pistons and cylinders 94 and 91 have completed the full extent of their movement,

v the pressure built up in line I Ill overbalances pressure sequence valve I32 to admit fluid pressure to line I33 leading to transfer carriage cylinder 88. Piston 88 is thereupon caused to move to advance transfer carriage IE! on its bed I6 carrying the work-piece which has just been cut from the length of stock by the saw. As the transfer carriage moves away from switch II9, this switch will open, relay RI remaining energized, however, through a holding circuit therefor. When such carriage has advanced to a point where the work-piece it carries is between the jaws 92 and 95 of the secondary clamping means, it strikes switch I34 operating solenoid valve I35 through relay R2 to admit fluid pressure to line I36 and connect line I31 to drain. Piston 35 is thereby reciprocated in cylinder 36 of column clamp 5 to release the stock to permit further feeding thereof. Since line I31, which is thus connected to drain, also communicates with line 81 leading to the upper end of transfer clamp cylinder 84 the upper end of such cylinder is likewise connected to drain.

Simultaneously with the above, the operation of relay R2 has broken the holding circuit of relay RI and caused solenoid control valve I3I to be shifted back again to connect line 99 to pressure, thereby moving the pistons and cylinders 94 and 95 of the secondary clamping means to secure the clamp of the new work-piece brought to them by transfer carriage I0. Jaw T8 of the transfer carriage is still holding such workpiece at this point even though line 81 is connected to drain, as above explained, due to the action of spring 85, the weight of the jaw and piston 83, and the fact that there is a slight delay before the fluid pressure eases off entirely due to the restricted flow through the lines. See Fig. '7. (In fact, if the lines are small, spring 85 may be dispensed with entirely as the secondary clamping means can be caused to grasp quickly the work-piece before the pressure is entirely off the transfer clamp.) When the secondary clamping means have securely gripped the work-piece and the pistons can move no further in cylinders 94 and 91, pressure is built up in line 99 which overbalances pressure sequence valve I38, admitting fluid pressure to line 88 leading to the lower end of transfer clamp cylinder {24 and positively elevating jaw 18. The transfer carriage II! is thus now free to return.

At the same time, actuation of relay R2 has also energized relay R3 to cause solenoid valve I39 to be shifted to connect line I40 to pressure supply line I I6 through a pressure reducing valve MI. Piston 44 in feed cylinder 43 is thereby reciprocated to feed the stock through the jaws 29, 30 of column clamp 5 and against stock stop 6. The stock 31 passes through the slot H in transfer carriage Ill which, it will be recalled, is in advanced position. Closing of switch III effects no change at this time, merely setting up the circuit against the time when the other switches will be closed as described below. The pressure in feed cylinder 43 continues to urge the stock against stop 5.

When jaw I8 of transfer clamp cylinder 84 has been elevated to the fullest extent, insuring release of the workpiece to the secondary clamping means, pressure builds up in line 88 which operates pressure controlled valve I42 to admit pressure to line M3, shifting piston in cylinder 89 to return transfer carriage I0 into position to clamp the stock newly fed through column clamp 5. Return of such carriage, of course, closes switch II 9.

It will be seen now that switches H9, H8, H1, I25! and I 2| have all been operated and a new cycle has been begun, solenoid valve I35 being in its normal position connecting lines 8! and 3! to pressure to close both the transfer clamp and the column clamp 5. It will be recalled that the lower end of transfer clamp cylinder 84 is still under pressure, but the area of the upper end of the piston head of piston 83 is greater than the area of the lower end so that the pressure differential is effective to reciprocate the same to cause jaw I8 to clamp the stock. The fluid in the lower end of cylinder 84 is forced out through valve I 38 which permits flow in this direction. Line I36 from the column clamp cylinder 36 is, of course, connected to drain when valve I35 is thus shifted.

The operation of the five switches noted is also effective to energize relay R4 to shift solenoid valve I24 to connect line i25 to pressure and line i126 to drain so that piston it'd is moved in cylinder i2? (see Fig. 8) to advance saw carriage 2. Since the column clamp and the transfer carriage clamp are closed almost at once, however. the stock is firmly held thereby before the advancing saw s engages it.

The operation of the five switches which thus causes the saw to advance also deenergizes relay R23 to cause shifting of solenoid valve ltd to connect line its to pressure and line M3 to drain. The stock feed gripper mechanism is therefore returned ready to again advance the stock. Since the jaws of column clamp ii are mounted for vertical adjustment, it will be understood that upper jaw 29 is required to move only a short distance to clamp the stock. Accordingly no time delay means need be incorporated with solenoid control valve N38 to ensure that the stock is not momentarily left unsecured when the feed carriage starts back. Standard time delay devices are, of course, available and may be employed here and elsewhere in the circuit as a safety measure if desired. They have not, however, proven to be necessary in actual operation. The cycle now continues, and is repeated as above described until the stock is exhausted.

It will now be seen that we have provided a machine in which work-pieces are automatically cut from continuous lengths of stock and transferred to a second station where further operations are performed thereon simultaneously with the severing of another piece. At no time from severing to discharge of the piece is it released from the grip of some clamping means which ensures proper indexing and centering thereof. The cut-off work-piece is transferred laterally to the second work station in such manner as not to interfere with the further feeding of stock past the sawing machine. Consequently, not only are the cut-off and machining operations performed simultaneously, but also the stock feed and transfer operations are simultaneous. The high production thus obtained makes for maximum use of the tools and minimum use of the operator. The machine is adapted to handle a wide variety of sizes of bar stock, tubing, and the like and to perform many combinations of operations thereon. As above indicated, a tool stand it and clamping means It may be employed instead of the simple stock stop, thereby providing yet another operation.

Figs. 18 and 19 show a somewhat modified form of transfer carriage Ii In embodiment such carriage also is adapted to reciprocate along ways M5 on support ME to transport a. cut-off workpiece 31 to the secondary clamping means. Support MB is pivotally mounted at Hill in base member M3, such base being adjustably positioned on ways I! in the same manner as base "it (see Fig. 7). The center of gravity of carriage ii] is suffiicently far forward (to the right in Fig. 18) that support 1% must be positively rotated in a counterclockwise direction and tends to rest in level position against base M8, which limits its clockwise pivotal movement.

The method of handling the stock previously described is particularly adapted to transport the work-piece at a constant level, thereby simplifying mechanical movements and facilitating centering. Lower jaw 19 of the stock transfer clamp is shown as a fiat table to permit direct withdrawal of the transfer carriage after such workpiece has been gripped by the secondary clamping jaws and upper jaw it raised. Under some circumstances, however, a difierent arrangement is preferred. When the stock comprises thinwalled tubing, a. curved'lower clamping jaw such as I49 may be employed to adequately support the tubing and prevent buckling. Such jaw may be carried by a piston Hi6 reciprocable in cylinder [5| connected in the hydraulic system to be advanced and retracted in synchronism with jaw 18.

When thus modified, upper jaws of the secondary clamping means may be fixedly positioned to properly center the work-piece when the latter is elevated into engagement therewith by lower jaws (see also Fig. 13). Since it is desired that the transfer carriage clamp continue to positively hold the work-piece until the secondary clamping means has taken hold, the forward end of transfer carriage It will be elevated therewith,.pivoting at t ll. Jaw 78 of the transfer clamp is then retracted sumciently to permit such carriage to return to level position and also to clear the work-piece. If flat lower jaw 19 is employed the carriage may now return along ways [45. If a lower jaw such as his is employed, on the other hand, it may be necessary also to retract such jaw to clear the work-piece before thus returning the carriage. It will be appreciated, of course, that the work-piece will ordinarily have been raised only a short distance before engaging upper jaw 92 of the secondary clamping means.

Not only does the above-described modification permit the employment of a formed lower jaw for the transfer clamp but also the two upper cylinders of the secondary clamping means may be dispensed with, with some saving in expense. Movements of the parts may be quite rapid to obtain maximum efficiency of operation.

Actually, the number of work stations is a matter of choice since the upper and lowerjaw carrying portions of the transfer carriage may be extended to provide for a series of spaced pairs of clamping jaws, the work-pieces at each station being advanced to the next by a single reciprocation of such carriage. Also, instead of feeding a continuous length of stock, shorter work-pieces such as forgings requiring a trimming operation may be fed sequentially to the cut-off and transfer means. A cold metal sawing machine gives a clean-milled out which permits immediate transfer for a second operation on such cut-01f end such as center-drilling. The side delivery feature permits a single operator to observe both feed and delivery sides of the machine. Since the tool spindles (saw, drills, etc.) are driven continuously there is lost time during cycling and it is an important object of this invention to reduce cycle time to a minimum by performing as many operations simultaneously as possible. Relatively short and simple mechanical movements and positive indexing also assist to this end. Thus, the clamping jaws are set to move a minimum distance and the work-piece is never loose but always securely clamped at all stages of the operation.

The machine of this invention is versatile in the type of work-piece it can handle, including channels, round tube, square tube, round bar, hex bar, rails, etc. The feed mechanism, saw, and transfer mechanism will all accommodate a large variety of both shapes and sizes, although modified clamping jaws may occasionally be desirable. The fact that the transfer carriage clamp grips the stock as well as the column clamp during the sawing operation is particularly advantageous when a long length of stock is to be severed. Since the cut-off work-piece is transferred laterally it is possible to employ a fixed stock stop for the stock feed past the saw instead of the common type of stop which must be swun out of the way to permit axial delivery of such work-piece.

Not only may the new stock be fed past the saw simultaneously with movement of the transfer carriage but also the machining operations at the second work station may be prolonged while such transfer means is advancing and resumed while the transfer means is returning. This may be an appreciable advantage where the work-piece is large and heavy and the movement of the transfer means consequently relatively slow. Such operation is in marked contrast to conventional machines wherein all machining operations cease during cycling. Since the work stations are independently mounted there is no cumulative error in indexing, and vibrations of tools at one station are less likely to affect other stations.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, means automatically operative intermittently to feed a continuous length of stock into position to be cut off by the saw of such machine at a first station, means automatically operative to clamp such stock during the sawing operation, a power-driven tool adapted to operate on the section of stock extending past such saw simultaneously with such cut-off operation, two power-driven tools at a second station spaced laterally from said clamping means, said two tools being relatively axially spaced to receive a cut-off section of stock therebetween, clamping means at such second station adjacent said two tools adapted to hold such section during operations on the end portions thereof, a transfer carriage mounted for reciprocation between such first station and such second-station, and clamping means on said carriage operative to clamp such stock continuously during the sawing operation and during transfer of the cut-off section to such second station, the said clamping means at such second station being operative to clamp such section prior to release of such section by said clamping means on said carriage.

2. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, means automatically operative intermittently to feed a continuous length of stock into position to be cut off by the saw of such machine at a first work station, means automatically operative to clamp such stock during the sawing operation, two power-driven tools at a second station spaced laterally from said clamping means, said two tools being relatively axially spaced to receive a cut-off section of stock therebetween, clamping means at such second station adjacent said two tools adapted to hold such section during the performance of operations thereon, a transfer carriage mounted for reciprocation between such first station and such second station, and clamping means on said carriage operative to clamp such stock continuously during the sawing operation and during transfer of the cut-off section to such second station, the said 12 clamping means at such second station being operative to clamp such section prior to release of such section by said clamping means on said carriage.

3. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, means automatically operative intermittently to feed a length of stock into position to be cut off thereby, a power driven tool adapted to operate on the end of the section of stock extending past such saw during such cut-off operation, transfer means reciprocable toward and away from a second work station, clamping means on said transfer means adapted to hold such section of stock intermediate its ends during such cut-01f operation, clamping means at such second station adapted to receive such section of stock from said transfer means, and power driven tools at such second station adapted to operate on the end portions of such transferred section while another section of stock is being cut off by such sawing machine, said stock feed means being operative to advance such stock during reciprocation of said transfer means.

4. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, a stock transfer carriage, means on said carriage operative to clamp a portion of such stock during the sawing operation, means operative to reciprocate said carriage after completion of a sawing operation to transfer a cut-off section of stock thus held by said clamping means on said carriage laterally to a second work station, and clamp-ing means at such second station operative to securely clamp such stock prior to the release thereof by said clamping means on said carriage.

5. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, a stock transfer carriage, means on said carriage operative to clamp such stock during the sawing operation, means operative to reciprocate said carriage to transfer a cut-off section of stock laterally to a second work station, a pivotal mounting for said carriage parallel to the axis of such stock carried thereby, and clamping means at such second station operative to securely clamp such stock prior to the release thereof by said clamping means on said carriage, said clamping means at such second station comprising a fixed upper jaw member and a corresponding lower jaw member movable theretoward to engage and lift such stock into clamping engagement therebetween with resultant pivotal movement of said carriage.

6. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, means operative intermittently to feed a continuous length of stock into position to be cut off by the saw of such machine at a first station, means automatically operative to clamp the section of such stock extending past such saw during the sawing operation, a power driven tool adapted to operate on the section of stock extending past such saw simultaneously with such cut-off operation, and means adapted to reciprocate said clamping means in a straight line to deliver such cut-off and machined section of stock laterally from said first station.

7. In combination with an automatic sawing machine, a. stock transfer carriage, means on said carriage operative to clamp such stock during the sawing operation, means operative to reciprocate said carriage in a straight line path to transfer a cut-off section of stock laterally to a second work-station, and a pivotal mounting for said carriage parallel to the axis of such stock carried thereby, whereby such stock may be elevated at such second station prior to release 

